Golf club



FeB. 1, 1949. F. BIscHAFl-ER GOLF CLUB Filed April 2:5, 1948 CI ttorneg:

3 having greater specific gravity than the plastic forming the club head and of such size and weight to concentrate weight or striking power in the club head immediately behind the strike ing face and increase the driving force of the club. The core is preferably arranged on a line slightly below the vertical center of the club head and consists of a plate l2 having a forward face 3 substantially coextensive with the insert S and adapted to lie against the rear face lli of said insert. The plate i2 is provided with rearwardly converging faces I5 terminating in a small neck portion i E arranged on the axis of the core. The neck portion I6 connects the plate i2 with an enlarged portion or mass il having its center substantially in a plane aligned with the shaft of the club. Spaced rearwardly of the mass I1 are enlarged portions or masses i8 and i9 each diminishing in size relative to the one forward thereof, small neck portions 20 and 2l on the axis of the core connecting the respective masses. The rearward mass is is spaced as at 22 from the rear surface of the club` head. The particular size and shape of the neck portions and the enlarged mass portions of the lcore are arranged to cooperate with the remainder of the club head to provide accurate weighting, balancing and swing weight to the club.

It is desirable for the enlarged portion il of the core to be suitably connected with the shaft 4. Therefore the portion Il is provided with an opening 23 extending therethrough parallel to the bottom of the club. Extending through the opening 23 and suitably secured to the core is a connecting member 24 which may be a rod but preferably for the lightness .in weight is formed of a metal tube of such length that the portionv 25 extending through the opening 23 terminates as at 26 in slightly spaced relation to the outer face 21 of the head. Adjacent the yconnection of the shank 3 and club head 2 the connecting member is bentV as at 28 to form an upwardly extending inclined portion 29 preferably arranged ron the axis of the shank. The upper end of the inclined portion is suitably con* nected to the shaft 4 as by telescoping therein and suitably secured as by a pin 38 adjacent the upper extremity of the shank which is enclosed in a suitable ferrule 3| or other closure to make a neat appearance as in conventional practice.

The shaft 4 and a connecting member 2li provide a direct connection between the shaft and the core Il to effect transmission of forces from the shaft to the weight whereby the full effect of inertia, the weight and the forces imparted thereto are delivered directly behind the point of impact between the `striking face and the ball to increase the driving lforce `delivered thereto. However, it is obvious that the shaft may be suitably connected to the club head as in conventional practice with slight modiiication to accomplish a similar effect, control the weight, distribute stress and obtain the desired click sound from impact of the club face with the ball.

The rear portion of the club head is provided with a plurality of voids 32 preferably being arranged substantially radially of the core, the outer portion of said voids being spaced as at 33 from the periphery of the club head. Each of the voids are Wider adjacent the edges of the head and taper toward the core terminating as at 34 in spaced relation to the core. This arrangement of the voids provides ribs or webs 35 between the respective voids, said ribs being wider adjacent the core than at the outer extremity where they connect with the outer portion of the head. The voids extend upwardly from the bottom face 37 of the club head and terminate below the upper face 3S of the club head as at 39, providing sufficient efficient material between the voidsand the upper face for adequate strength in' the club head.y This arrangement of voids and ribs provides outwardly radially arranged members for transmitting stress through the respective portions of the club as well as providing a vertical web -ill in which the fcore is located concentrating the principal portion of the weight of the club head behind the point of impact with the ball.

The lower face 31 of the club head is covered by a sole scuir plate 4I, said scui plate extending over the lower openings of the voids to completely cover same. The sole plate il is secured in place on the bottom of the club head by screws 42 which extend through opening 43 in said sole plate and screw into openings 44 in the head. f

In assembling a golf club constructed as describedthe connecting member 24 is inserted into opening 23 of the core and secured thereto. Said core andiconnecting member are then placed in a suitable mold having portions thereon for` forming the recess 'l and the voids 32. A suitable plastic material is placed in the mold around the core by injection of other suitable plastic molding process to form the club head in the shape ofia club wood After the club head is removed from the mold the surface is in a finished condition and requires no polishing or the like. The insert 8 is then placed in the recess 'I and cemented or otherwise secured thereto. The sole or scuff plate 4l is then applied to the bottom 31 of the club head and securedthereto by the screws 42 being threaded into the Aopenings lll in the club head. The joint between the shaft, connecting member 24, and shank 3 is then completed and covered with a ferrule 3| to make a completed club.

The form of invention illustrated in Fig. 6 is substantially the same as shown and described relative to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. Additional voids 45 are provided in the club head and a wire or mesh 46 arranged between the voids and the outer extremity Mof the club head, said wire or mesh being secured as at 48 adjacent to the terminal end of the connecting member 49 and as at 50 adjacent the point of connection of theV shank and club head. The wire Aor mesh also extends to the edges of the plate member 5| of the core and across the face thereof behind the insert 8. This wire or mesh adds to the structural strength and may be used to reinforce the ribs, provide a light, strong, plastic non-solid golf club head. This form of the club head is molded and assembled substantially as described relative to the preferred form.

It is apparent, therefore, that the present invention provides a golf club structure which is reliable, practically indestructible and adapted to quantity manufacture in which a proper shape and balance for the club may be scientifically and economically attained. Y

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A golf club head comprising, a molded body of plastic material having integral top, forward and rear walls and terminating at one side in a neck adapted for connection with a golf club shaft, a ball striking face on the forward wall, a weight member engaging the forward wall and extending rearwardly therefrom substantially to the rear wall, and a plurality of rearwardly divergingjribsintegralwith and extending downwardly from the top wall 4connacting the weight member and rear wall tc vform-a 'supporting structure for said weight member, saidribs being Connected adjacent the weight member for entirely enclosing said weight. member in .plastic material and increasing the effective massat the center of the head behindthe normal point of impact 'of the'striking face on a golf ball.

, 2; Agolf club head comprising, a molded body of plastic material having .integral top, f forward and rear walls and terminating .at one side in a neck adapted for connection with a golf club shaft, a ball striking face on the forward wall, a weight member engaging the forward wall and extending rearwardly therefrom substantially to the rear wall, a central bridge integral with and extending downwardly from the rtop wall connecting the forward and rear walls and surrounding the weight member, and a plurality of spaced ribs integral with and extending downwardly from the top wall having connection with the central bridge and diverging rearwardly therefrom to form a supporting structure for the weight member and increase the effective mass at the center of the head behind the normal point of impact of the striking face on a golf ball.

3. A golf club head comprising, a molded body' of plastic material having integral top, forward and rear wallsl and terminating at one side in a neck adapted for connection with a golf club shaft, a ball striking face on the forward wall, a weight member engaging the forward wall and extending rearwardly therefromsubstantially to the rear wall, a plurality of rearwardly diverging Yribs integral with and extending downwardly fromV the top wall connecting the weight member and rear wall to form a supporting structure for said weight member, said ribs being connected adjacent the weight member for entirely enclosing said weight member in plastic material and increasing the effective mass at the center of the head behind the normal point of impact of the striking face on a golf ball, and means connected to the weight member and extending through the neck adapted for connection with the club shaft. l i

4. A golf club head comprising, a molded body of plastic material having integral top, forward and rear walls and terminating at one side in a neck adapted for connection with a golf club ball striking face on the forward wall, a weight member engaging the forward wall and extending rearwardly therefrom substantially to the rear wall, a plurality of rearwardly diverging ribs integral with and extending downwardly from the top wall connecting the weight member and rear wall to forma supporting structure for said weight member, said ribs being connected adjacent the weight member for entirely enclosing said weight member in plastic material and increasing the effective mass at the center of the head behind the normal point of impact of the face on a golf ball, means connected to the weight member and extending through the neck adapted for connection with the club shaft, and a sole plate secured on the under side of the body.

A golf club head comprising, a molded body of plastic material having integral top, forward and rear walls and terminating at one sde in a neck adapted for connection with a golf club shaft, a ball striking face on the forward wall,

a weight member engaging the forward wall end `extending rearwardly therefrom substantially to the rear wall, a central bridge integral with and extending downwardly from the top wall connecting the' forward and rear walls and surrounding the weight member, a plurality of spaced ribsintegral with and extending downwardly fromfthe top Awall having connection with the central' bridge and diverging rearwardly therefrom to form a supporting structure for the weight member and increasing the effective mass at the center of the head behind the normal point of impact of the striking face on a golf ball, means connected to the weight member and vertending*through the neck adapted for `connection with the club shaft, and a sole plate secured on the under side of the body.

6. A golf club headcomprising, a molded body K of plastic material having integral top, forward and rear Walls and terminating at one side in a neck adapted for connection with a golf club shaft, an insert in the forward wall forming the striking face thereof, a weight member engaging said insert and extending rearwardly therefrom substantially to the rear wall, a central bridge rintegral with and extending downwardly from the top wall connecting the forward and rear walls and surrounding the weight member, a plurality of spaced ribs integral with and extending downwardly from the top wall having connection with the -central bridge and diverging giearwardly therefrom to form a supporting structure for the weight member and increasing the effective mass at the center of the head behind the normal point of impact of the striking face on a golf ball, and a sole plate secured on the under side of the body.

'i'. A golf club head comprising, a molded body of plastic material having integral top, forward and rear Walls and terminating at one side in .eck adapted for connection with a golf club shaft, an insert in the forward wall forming the striking face thereof, a weight member engaging said insert and extending rearwardly therefrom substantially to the rear wall, a central bridge integral with and extending downwardly from the top wall connecting the forward and rear Walls and surrounding the weight member, a plurality of spaced ribs integral with and extending downwardly from the top wall having connection with the central bridge and diverging rearwardly therefrom to form a supporting structure for the weight member, said ribs being progressively less in thickness toward the rear wall for increasing the effective mass at the center of the head behind the normal point of impact of the striking face on a golf ball, means connected to the weight member and extending through the neck adapted for connection with the club shaft, and a sole plate secured to the under side of the body.

8. A golf club head comprising, a molded body of plasticrmaterial having integral top, forward and rear walls and terminating at one side in a neck adapted for connection with a golf club shaft, an insert in the forward wall forming the striking face thereof, a weight member having an enlarged head engaging said insert, said weight member extending rearwardly from the insert substantially to the rear wall and having a plurality of axially arranged enlarged portions rearwardly spaced relative to the insert, a,

said'ribs diverging from each of the enlarged portions of the weight member and being progressively less in'thickness toward the rear Wall, said ribs being connected adjacent said Weight member for entirely'enclosing said weight member in plastic material and increasing the eiective mass at the center of the head behind the normal point of impact of the striking face on a golf ball, wire reinforcing means in the forward and rear walls adjacent the periphery of the body, a tubular member extending through the Weight member and secured thereto and to the Wire reinforcing means on opposite sides of the Weight member, said tubular member extending through Y the neck and adapted for connection with the 15 2,346,617

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesy are of record in the le of this patent:

, UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 1,501,344 Hubbard 1 July 15, 1924 1,592,463 Marker July 13, 1926 1,841,062 Schavoir Jan. 12, 1932 2,100,864 Mansur 'Nov. 30,' 1937 Schaffer Apr. 11, 1944 

